TJC's Dr. Drain named Under Armour AD of the Year

Tyler Junior College's Dr. Tim Drain has been awarded Junior College/Community College Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics announced Tuesday in Cleveland.

Drain will receive his award during the James J. Corbett Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, June 17 at NACDA's 50th Annual Convention at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Florida.

"I am extremely humbled to be receiving this honor," Drain said. "While I am not sure it is deserved, I do know that it cannot be appreciated more. I am also fully aware that any individual award is a reflection of a bigger picture. I am deeply privileged and honored to work at an institution like Tyler Junior College. I work with a tremendous group of administrators, faculty and staff. I am so grateful for the head coaches and assistant coaches who understand the mission of TJC and do their best to recruit student-athletes who reflect those values.

"People like Eddy McGuire and his training staff, Denny Yarbrough and Kenny Masenda do so much work for our student-athletes and our coaches, and I deeply appreciate their commitment to TJC. I also want to thank Chuck Smith and Angie Clemons for their tireless work on behalf of the college and our athletic department. I also want to recognize and thank the student-athletes of TJC for choosing Tyler as a place to begin their college years."

Drain is in his 16th year of athletics administration at TJC and his 13th as the college's athletics director. TJC has won a total of 51 NJCAA national championships since 1946, which ranks fourth in the history of NJCAA (as of December 2014).

Twenty-four of those have come under Drain's tenure, with 19 of them coming with Drain as AD. The TJC athletics program finished third in the 2013-14 NATYCAA Cup Standings, was fourth the year before, and finished as national runner-up in 2011-12. Drain has served as the NJCAA Region XIV Women's Director since 2001.

NACDA executive director Bob Vecchione said the ADOY Award is essential because it highlights the efforts of athletics directors at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses and their surrounding communities.

"Since 1998, NACDA has been highlighting the notable contributions made by athletics directors across all divisions of our membership … winners have been recognized by their peers for their outstanding work on campus, in their community and supporting their student-athletes," said Vecchione.

Dr. Drain is the chair of both the Service and Recognition and Women's Tennis committees for the NJCAA. He is also a voting member in the football, women's basketball, softball and women's soccer NJCAA national polls and has been the tournament director for 21 NJCAA National Championships, including men's and women's soccer (11), baseball (eight), and women's tennis (two).

Drain was awarded the 2010 George E. Killian Award of Excellence from the NJCAA and was honored as an Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year in 2012. He was inducted into the NJCAA Men's Soccer Hall of Fame in 2013 for his contributions to the sport. Dr. Drain is married to Holly, his wife of 21 years. They have two children, Peyton (16) and Nathan (14).

"Finally, this award cannot be accepted without thanking my wife Holly and two boys Peyton and Nathan. I could not do this job without their support," he said. "Anytime you single out people to thank, you risk forgetting a few. Just simply know that I share this honor with all Apaches."

I am a native Tylerite and I grew up reading the Tyler Morning Telegraph and The Tyler Courier-Times. My parents took both the morning and afternoon papers. I came to work here 34 years ago at the age of 23, right after college.

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